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Tokyo sake signboard

Japanese food is now well-known throughout the world, but much less mentioned is the nation’s really rather good range of beers; which, as well as regular lagers, also includes a few premium brews. The current favourite, according to the always well informed What Japan Thinks, being Yebisu.

Yet despite its huge popularity in Japan, the beverage of choice for many is still considered somewhat uncouth, with bawdiness and bad behaviour seen as its usual bedfellows. Along with, erm, bikinis.

Sake on the other hand is seen as much more refined, especially with its links to culture and religion, which is possibly what prompted one Tokyo bar owner to go as far as flaunting five (albeit rather vague) reasons for rejoicing in a glass or two.

Although whether â€˜to refuse the future’ is meant as reflective or as a rash refusal of any resultant headache is very much open to question.